Chattanooga, TN based indie rock band Nevertheless is poised to make an impression on rock
music with their catchy debut Live Like We're Alive. With mere days until the release of
their record, frontman Joshua Pearson paused to answer a few questions about the band for us at the Hideout...
This interview took place: September, 2006

Jesus freak Hideout:
What's the story behind the name "Nevertheless?"

Joshua Pearson: About three and a half years ago, AJ and I were reading Luke
chapter 5 together. The disciples were fishing and weren't catching anything, so Jesus told them to
cast their nets on the other side of the boat. Peter told Him, "We have been fishing all night and
haven't caught anything. Nevertheless, at Your word, Master, we will let down our nets."
We thought it was a cool word that represented his transition from disobedience to obedience.

JFH: How did the band get started?

Joshua:
We actually came from the remains of three different local bands. AJ, Adam Rowe, and I went to high
school together. Adam Wann and AJ are related, and I met Brad through Campus Crusade as a sound guy.

JFH: When you first went to college, you guys considered breaking
up. How did the band grow stronger when he returned? What kept the band persevering together?

Joshua:
When I went away to college, for some reason, the band practiced every Monday without missing one.
They would fly me in for hometown shows periodically. I guess God would not let us put it down even
when we had no intentions of doing it full time. The fire for music never died even when we tried to
ignore it.

JFH: Last year, the band released an indie EP titled
From The Inside Looking In. The EP possessed a distinctly more indie rock feel. Why the
transition to more of a pop/rock sound? What brought the band from the EP to the new record?

Joshua:
The EP was written about two years before the new album was recorded. At that time, we were at a
different place mentally as far as writing songs is concerned. I would say it was more stream of
thought, whereas now, we try to picture the completion of the song as we are writing the various
parts. We still love those songs, but the new album is where we are at as a band.

JFH: What made the process of writing and recording your new album Live Like
We're Alive one of the hardest things the band has done?

Joshua:Live Like We're Alive was recorded in Florida over a period of two months. We definitely
had some disagreements with ourselves and with outside people about what songs were making the record
and how those songs would be produced. Those disagreements, coupled with living in one hotel room with
five people for two months, created some trying times.

JFH: What's the greatest thing you felt you learned through that process?

Joshua:
From my perspective, the greatest thing we learned is to be open-minded. I forget who exactly said
what changed my view, but they said, "The things that are truly great are collaborative efforts."
For some reason, that shook me and changed the way that I viewed the songs and the record. The other
guys went through the process of becoming open-minded too with people helping them mold their parts
into something that was maybe a bit different than what they had intended. We are very thankful for
these people now.

JFH: What inspired the song "Lover?"

Joshua:
The song "Lover" was written when I had been reading the book of Hosea in the Bible. God's word shows
us how fragile and sinful we are, but it also shows us how faithful He is and how His strength is
great enough for us in our weaknesses. I was definitely humbled when the lyrics came to me. That is
one of our favorite songs as a band.

JFH: How about "Time?"

Joshua: "Time" was actually written with the purpose of having a song about the
subject of breaking off a relationship on the record. Everyone has been in the place where they don't
know whether or not to pursue a relationship, and we wanted to touch on that in a fun and clever way.
It's not the heart-grabber of the album, but hopefully fun!

JFH: Do you have a favorite song on the record? Why?

Joshua: All of us have a different favorite song weekly it seems like, but, right now,
I'd probably say it's "O' Child." I love this song because it reminds me of how God has always had me
in mind since before I was even born. He always brings me back when I attempt to run and do things
my own way.

JFH: Your music is blatantly hopeful in a time where it seems to be more common to hear more desparate or hurt-filled songwriting coming from the rock industry. What made you guys choose more hopeful themes?

Joshua: Even if we set out to write a totally hurt-filled song, and we have,
it always ends up being about the hope of God in the end. An older song, "Cries From The City," was
attempted to be written from the perspective of someone hurting, and it's probably the closest we'll
come to not presenting hope in every song.

JFH:
Your songs are also clearly more spiritual than a lot of indie rock these days, which is refreshing I must add. In a time where so many artists in CCM are trying to avoid the label as a "Christian band," did anyone ever try to dissuade such an approach? Was it ever tempting to tone down the spiritual aspect at all?

Joshua: I can honestly say that we have never set out to write a song for just one
certain audience. We attempt to write songs that are real to us first, so that they will be real to
the listeners also. Being Christians, all of the songs are obviously written from a Christian's
worldview, and we hope they will touch any listener. Christ was not exclusive with whom we shared
the gospel to, and we don't want to be either. We chose to be in the Christian industry because it's
hard to survive without the encouragement of other Christians in one's life.

JFH: Are there any bands in Christian music past or present that
have inspired what Nevertheless is doing. Is there any band you look at and think "Yeah, that's what
we want Nevertheless to be like."?

Joshua: There are a lot of bands in Christian music who have inspired us, but one
that all five of us love is Relient K. Musically and lyrically, they are fresh and sincere,
and that is what is attractive in a Christian artist to us.

JFH: Here are a few just for fun... All-time favorite movie?

Joshua: We all like Zoolander. Male modeling is funny in and of itself.

JFH: Weirdest favorite food?

Joshua: I don't know. We were all addicted to In and Out Burger on the West coast.

JFH: Any hobbies besides music?

Joshua: Some of us like sports. Reading is awesome too!

JFH: What has God been teaching you lately?

Joshua: God has been teaching us how to be servants to each other. It is so hard to
think about others' needs before yourself. We are really attempting to cater to each others'
individual quirkiness and differences.

JFH: Thanks for taking the time to do this. Are there any last comments?

Joshua: Thanks so much for the support and encouragement. God bless… Joshua and Nevertheless.